Assessment

Assessment procedures and grading

To make the best of your time and studying you should familiarise yourself with some of the guidelines which exist at Dumfries Campus concerning assessments, the grading system and your attendance at class.

Absences and illness       

The University has a new Student Absence Policy which applies to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from Session 2008/09.  The policy covers attendance requirements and procedures for reporting absences, whether they are for personal reasons or sickness.All students are advised to familiarise themselves with the policy.

Summary:

1. The Student Absence Policy applies to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students and defines a significant absence as an absence of more than seven consecutive days or one which prevents a student from attending an examination or fulfilling any other requirement for the award of credit, such as attendance at a compulsory tutorial, laboratory class or deadline for handing in an assignment.
2. Students must complete a WebSURF absence report for any significant absence and are recommended to complete an absence report for any absence for which they would like the University to take account.
3. All potentially significant absences should be reported as soon as is practical in Part 1 of the WebSURF absence report; Part 2 should be completed on return to University.
4. The normal submission deadline for the completed absence report is seven days after return to University and Boards of Examiners will not necessarily take account of absences reported after this deadline.
5. If at all possible, absences that will result in non-attendance at examinations should be notified before the examination by contacting the relevant Department and followed up by completion of Part 1 of the WebSURF absence report.
6. Documentary evidence is required for any significant absence.  Please refer to the Absence Policy for a schedule of circumstances in which medical evidence is required.  WebSURF has the facility for documentary evidence to be scanned in by the student to their record.  It is the responsibility of the student to keep all additional documentation and submit it to the Head of Department or nominee(s) on request.  Scanning facilities are available on campus.
7. The Absence Policy includes a statement of how Departments should respond to a notification of absence.

In addition on Dumfries Campus self-certification forms for absences up to four days are available from the General Office. Only if written explanation or a medical certificate is presented to either the Course convenor or the General Office will absences be considered to have been adequately explained. Unexplained absences may prevent students from passing their course.

Deadlines and penalties

All work should be submitted before the deadline. Students may be granted an extension (after consultation with their Course Convenor and Adviser of Studies) to the deadline only on medical or compassionate grounds. Extensions will not be given in retrospect. Late work will normally be penalised 2 bands per day after the deadline date for a maximum of 10 days. Thereafter a mark of 0 will be given.

You may appeal this action by providing evidence of medical or compassionate reasons for the absent work. If that work is submitted as soon as possible thereafter, it may be decided to grant partial or full credit for it.